Communication system capable of reducing communication load

ABSTRACT

A portable information terminal  201  is connected through a radio base station and the like to an Internet  204.  Furthermore, a music server  205,  a mail server  206  and a distribution server  207  is connected to the Internet  204.  The distribution server  207  distributes data stored in the music server  205  and mail server  206.  The distribution server  207  includes a distribution data store memory  209  in which data for the distribution is transiently stored and a radio unit  210  which wirelessly distributes data to the portable information terminal  201.  When accesses are concentrated on the music server  205  from the distribution information terminals  201,  the music server  205  transfers a file including music data to the distribution server  207.  The distribution server  207  wirelessly transfers the file to each of the portable information terminals  201  with temporal dispersion. Employing above structure, even if the accesses for the communications are transiently concentrated on the particular apparatuses such as the server, it is possible to obtain the communication system which can avoid the occurrence of the overload condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a communication system using a radio apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a communication system that can reduce a communication load on an information provider providing various contents or data.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Recently, various radio apparatuses such as a portable telephone are widely used not only in a call but also in various communications. The various communications include, for example, a download of various data such as music data and the like from a predetermined home page by using the Internet, reception of a mail, and upload of picture data, such as a photograph took by himself and the like, to a home page of a dealer in order to produce a photograph album.

[0005] As such a communication system, for example, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JPA 2000-90039) discloses “Music Distributing Method, Transmitting Apparatus And Method, And Reproducing Apparatus And Method”. In this communication system, a music server and a client are connected to an Internet. The client prepares a public key and a secret key based on an ID peculiar to the reproducing apparatus. The public key is sent to and registered in the server, and the secret key is stored in the reproducing apparatus. The client requests the server to distribute music data. The encryption based on the registered public key is performed on the music data fetched from a music database (DB). The encrypted music data is sent to the client, and stored in the reproducing apparatus. At a time of a reproduction, the music data is decoded and reproduced in accordance with the secret key stored in the reproducing apparatus. The music data stored in the reproducing apparatus is encrypted in accordance with the key prepared on the basis of the ID peculiar to the reproducing apparatus. Thus, the other reproducing apparatuses can not reproduce the music data. This configuration enables a system for distributing music data to sufficiently consider the protection of the copyright of the music data to be distributed.

[0006] Also, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JPA-Heisei, 10-150460) discloses “Radio Picture Communication System”. In this radio picture communication system, a video server opens various picture information stored therein as a common file onto a network. A terminal station sends a title of picture information, which it desires to receive, as control information to a radio control station by using a second radio communication path. The control radio station sends the title of the picture information included in the control information received from the terminal station, to a radio picture station, and then instructs to send this picture information to the terminal station. In response to this instruction, the radio picture station reads out the picture information corresponding to the instruction from the common file, and then sends to the terminal station by using a first radio communication path. Thus, the radio picture terminal can comfortably receive the picture information with a high quality.

[0007] Moreover, Japanese Patent No. 2924865 discloses “Voice Mail System”. In this voice mail system, a server and one or more terminals are connected through a communication medium to each other. The serer manages a memory for storing a plurality of voice mail data as an identifiable file in a memory area assigned for each terminal. The server is provided with transmitting means and memory control means. The transmitting means, when receiving a mail request through the communication medium from the terminal, reads out the voice mail data from the memory area of the memory assigned to a terminal of its transmission source, and transmits to the terminal of the transmission source. The memory control means, when receiving a mail edition signal, again accumulates by inserting or adding the voice mail data in the mail edition signal to a position specified by the mail edition signal, in the memory area of the memory assigned to the terminal of the transmission source. This configuration enables the extremely effective communication in a communication network which transmission speed is slower than that of a wire line, and cost is expensive, because the same voice mail data is not transmitted and received between the server and the same terminals in many times.

[0008]FIG. 1 shows an example of the conventional communication system disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JPA 2000-90039), in which a portable telephone is used as a radio apparatus. In this communication system, a portable telephone 101 wirelessly communicates with a base station 102. The base station 102 is connected to a portable telephone network 103, and the portable telephone network 103 is connected to an Internet 104. A content server 105 for providing various contents is connected to the Internet 104. The portable telephone 101 can access to the desirable content server 105 through the portable telephone network 103 and the Internet 104. For the purpose of easy explanation, FIG. 1 shows one portable telephone 101, one base station 102 and one content server 105, respectively.

[0009] In this communication system, let us suppose that the content server 105 is the music downloading exclusive server for providing a service of downloading music data. When a new song of a popular singer or the like is sold or a hit song is produced, a large number of portable telephones 101 intensively access to the content server 105 dedicated to the music downloading operation. The content server 105 establishes a link to each of the accessed portable telephones 101, and distributes the music data requested by each of them. Thus, if the accesses are concentrated on the particular content server 105, a data distribution amount per hour to each portable telephone 101 from the content server 105 becomes very small. As a result, the time it takes for each portable telephone 101 to download the music data becomes long. Hence, this results in a problem that a communication cost is expensive.

[0010] To solve above problem, conventionally, such a structure is employed that several servers are prepared on the side of the content servers 105 to disperse the loads. This structure causes the facility cost on the side of the content servers 105 to be increased. Such a measure may be effective for the content server 105 having a high access frequency. However, in the server on which the accesses are transiently concentrated, such a fact that the facility is increased correspondingly to the peak is a problem from the viewpoint of the effective usage of the communication system. Thus, the problem that the downloading of the data in the case of the load concentration requires the abnormally long time is not still solved in many content servers.

[0011] As mentioned above, the music distribution has been described as the example. However, there may be a case that an overload is transiently induced on the server side when electronic mails are collectively distributed to the side of the portable telephones, or when personal information is distributed to the portable telephones under a predetermined condition. This results in the similar problem. The similar problem is induced even when the uploading operations are transiently concentrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a communication system which can avoid an occurrence of an overload condition even if accesses for communications are transiently concentrated on a particular apparatus such as a server and the like.

[0013] In order to attain the above-mentioned object, a communication system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a network, a distribution server and a client terminal.

[0014] The distribution server is composed of any number of first folders to which files read from a content server connected to said network, an actuation timing setting section for setting actuation timings to process the files stored in the first folders, a file read section for reading out the corresponding file at the arrival of the actuation timing set by the actuation timing setting section and a radio transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the file read by the file read section.

[0015] The client terminal is composed of any number of second folders which are correlated to at least a part of the first folders in a one-to-one relationship, a radio receiver for wirelessly receiving the file transmitted by the radio transmitter and a storing section for storing the file received by the radio receiver in the second folder corresponding to the first folder.

[0016] That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, the distribution server and client terminal have any number of folders in which at least parts thereof are correlated to each other in the one-to-one relationship. The distribution server stores a file read from a content server in the first folder. The actuation timing setting section sets an actuation timing to process the file stored in the first folder. The file read section reads the corresponding file at the arrival of the actuation timing set by the actuation timing setting section. The radio transmitter wirelessly transmits the read file to the client terminal. In the client terminal, the radio receiver receives the file transmitted by the radio transmitter. The received file is stored in the second folder corresponding to the first folder.

[0017] Thus, for example, if the downloading of a predetermined file are requested by a number of the client terminals, and a long time is required in order to transfer the file to those client terminals, the content server to which the downloading of the file is requested stores the file in the first folder of the distribution server. Since the distribution server has the folder correlated to the client terminal, the distribution server can wirelessly transmit the requested file, in such a condition that the loads are dispersed by setting the actuation timings.

[0018] Such a constitution that the distribution server is mediated enables the content server, on which the accesses from the clients are transiently concentrated, to disperse the loads for the transfers of the files. Also, it is effective to install a cache memory in the distribution server.

[0019] In the first aspect of the present invention, the actuation timing setting section may set a periodic interval as the actuation timing. If the transfer of the file is not in a great hurry, the processes on the distribution server can be dispersed by properly setting the periodic interval.

[0020] In the first aspect of the present invention, the actuation timing setting section may set a time as the actuation timing. According to this constitution, a technique for using nighttime in a case of a file transfer having no emergency can be used to thereby make a communication fee cheaper and also attain the effective usage of the distribution server.

[0021] In the first aspect of the present invention, the actuation timing setting section may be actuated when a new file is stored in the first folder, and the corresponding file stored in the first folder is removed after the new file is transferred to the second folder through the radio transmitter and the radio receiver and is stored therein.

[0022] This shows the case in which the transmission is done at real time when the file is stored. As for the transfer of the emergent file, this constitution enables an emergent distribution of the file. Of course, if the distribution server is responsible for the distributions of the files from the various servers and the like, the transfer timings themselves of the emergent files can be dispersed entirely and temporally. Thus, there is little fear that the loads are concentrated on a particular time.

[0023] A communication system according to a second aspect of the present invention is composed a network, a distribution server which is connected the network and has a first folder, a mobile terminal which is connected to the network and has a second folder correlated with the first folder, and a position detector which detects a current position of the mobile terminal. The distribution server includes a file transmitting section that wirelessly transmits a file stored in advance in the first folder to the second folder when the position detector detects that the current position of the mobile terminal is a predetermined position.

[0024] According to this communication system, the mechanism in which a necessary file is transferred from the distribution server to the mobile terminal, with positional information as a trigger, is effective for a guide of a land and the like, such as a case when a user of the mobile terminal visits an unfamiliar land.

[0025] In the second aspect of the present invention, the file transmitted by the file transmitting section is the file for storing information of a predetermined territory, and the mobile terminal has an information display for displaying the information of the territory when receiving this file.

[0026] That is, the mobile terminal has the information display for displaying information, such as a display, a speaker or the like, and the file for storing the information of the predetermined territory is sent and displayed by the display.

[0027] A communication system according to a third aspect of the present invention is composed of a network, a mobile terminal which has a first folder and a first communication unit for carrying out a radio communication, a distribution server which is connected to the network and has a memory region correlated to the first folder and a second communication unit for carrying out a radio communication and a file transferring unit which, when a file is stored in the memory region of the distribution server, transfers the file to a particular memory region which is connected through the network to the distribution server.

[0028] According to this communication system, if the uploading operations of the files from the mobile terminals are concentrated on the predetermined regions among the several particular memory regions, the distribution server is placed between them. Then, the mobile terminal stores the file in the individual memory region corresponding to each of the mobile terminals within the distribution server. Thus, the concentration of the loads is avoided. Hence, this has a merit that the mobile terminal can transmit and receive the file without directly recognizing the location of the particular memory region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029]FIG. 1 is a system configuration view showing an example of a conventional communication system in which a portable telephone is used as a radio unit;

[0030]FIG. 2 is a system configuration view showing a schematic configuration of a communication system in a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a portable information terminal used in the first embodiment;

[0032]FIG. 4 is a plan view of a display showing an example of a menu screen when a user accesses to a portal site, in the first embodiment;

[0033]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a display showing an example of a menu screen for a music distribution when a user selects a button “Music Distribution” in the first embodiment;

[0034]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a display when a user selects an item “Minimum Fee” in the first embodiment;

[0035]FIG. 7 is an explanation view showing an example of a folder used in the first embodiment;

[0036]FIG. 8 is an explanation view showing a flow of a process among a music server, a distribution server and a portable information terminal when the distribution server transmits music data to the portable information terminal, in the first embodiment;

[0037]FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a condition when a portable information terminal displays a mail setting screen of a distribution server, in order to set a distribution of a mail, in the first embodiment;

[0038]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a process when a distribution server accesses to a mail server and stores a mail in a corresponding folder, in the first embodiment;

[0039]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow in a distributing process of an electronic mail in a distribution server, in the first embodiment;

[0040]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of a typical process of a distribution server, in the first embodiment;

[0041]FIG. 13 is a system configuration view showing a schematic configuration of a communication system in a second embodiment;

[0042]FIG. 14 is a plan view of a display showing an example of a setting menu of a territory guide service, in the second embodiment; and

[0043]FIG. 15 is a system configuration view showing a schematic configuration of a communication system in a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the following embodiments.

[0045] (First Embodiment)

[0046]FIG. 2 shows the schematic configuration of a communication system in a first embodiment of the present invention. In this communication system, a portable information terminal 201 represented by a portable telephone or a portable computer having a communication function is connected through a radio base station or a circuit device (not shown), such as a modem (a modulation demodulation device), a router and the like, to an Internet 204. A music server 205 for storing a content of music and a mail server 206 for storing a mail are connected to the Internet 204, as an example of a content server for providing various contents. Also, a distribution server 207 for distributing the data of those servers 205, 206 and a predetermined content server 208 for accumulating a home page as a portal site are also connected to the Internet 204. The distribution server 207 contains a distribution data store memory 209 for transiently storing the data for a distribution and a radio unit 210 for wirelessly distributing the data to the portable information terminal 201. A private cable 211 is connected between the music server 205 and the distribution server 207 and a private cable 212 is connected between the mail server 206 and the distribution server 207.

[0047]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the portable information terminal used in the first embodiment. The portable information terminal 201 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 221, ROM 223, RAM 224, a display control circuit 225, a display 226, a transmission/reception circuit 227, an antenna 228, an operation control circuit 229, an operation unit 231, a voice circuit 232, a microphone 233, a speaker 234 and a bus 222.

[0048] The CPU 221 is connected through the bus 222, such as a data bus, an address bus, a control bus and the like, to respective sections within the portable information terminal. The ROM 223 is a read only memory for storing a program to carry out various controls of the portable information terminal 201 and other fixed data. The RAM 224 is a memory for work. A part the RAM 224 constitutes a detachable memory medium. If as the detachable memory medium, a medium having a relatively large capacity is assembled in the portable information terminal 201, a large amount of downloaded music data and the like can be stored in the medium.

[0049] The display control circuit 225 is used to display visual data on the display 226, such as a liquid crystal or the like, assembled in the portable information terminal 201. The transmission/reception circuit 227 is used when data is transmitted and received through an antenna 228. The operation control circuit 229 is used to input operation data from the operation unit 231 having a plurality of button switches (not shown) and carry out a control for putting on or off those button switches. The voice circuit 232 is used for controlling an input/output of a voice, and it is connected to the microphone 233 and the speaker 234.

[0050] It should be noted that the music server 205, the mail server 206 and the content server 208 which are shown in FIG. 2 have the configurations basically equal to those of the typical computer. Thus, those explanations are omitted. The distribution server 207 also has the configuration substantially equal to them. However, it is different in the structure that it has the distribution data store memory 209 and the radio unit 210 wirelessly automatically connected to the portable information terminal 201 in order to carry out a communication.

[0051] <Downloading of Music Data>

[0052] At first, a case in which a user of the portable information terminal 201 shown in FIG. 2 downloads music data in above communication system is described as an example. In this case, the user of the portable information terminal 201 initially accesses to a predetermined portal site on the Internet 204.

[0053]FIG. 4 shows an example of a menu screen when the user accesses to the portal site. The menu screen customized for each user of the portable information terminal 201 is displayed on the display 226. In this example, a news button 241 for selecting a site of a news, a mail button 242 for setting a distribution of a mail and a music distribution button 243 for accessing to a home page to carry out a distribution of a music are placed on the screen.

[0054] In the case of this example, it is supposed that the user of the portable information terminal 201 selects the music distribution button 243. When the music distribution button 243 is selected, the CPU 221 (FIG. 3) controls the access to the music server 205 shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) prepared in advance. Thereby, a menu screen of its home page is displayed on the display 226.

[0055]FIG. 5 shows an example of a menu screen for a music distribution when the user selects a button “Music Distribution”. The menu screen is designed that a predetermined number of songs whose distributions are desired are displayed on the display 226. So, the user selects the desirable song from the displayed songs by using a radio button. If the desirable song is absent, the user can select a next button 251 or a previous button 252 to indicate next song names or previous song names.

[0056] The user also selects a manner of distributing music on this menu screen. If the user selects an item “Immediately”, although a downloading fee is comparatively expensive, the distribution is immediately started. If the user selects an item “Minimum Fee”, instead of the comparatively cheap downloading fee, the distribution is carried out in a time band in which the downloading work is relatively empty. In the system shown in FIG. 2, although the distribution server 207 has the radio unit 210, there may be a case that another radio unit or another radio facility is used to send the data to the portable information terminal 201. In the latter case, there may be a case that the data is sent through a line up to the radio unit or the radio facility. So, in such a case, it may be considered to send the data in a time band in which the line is not busy or in nighttime in which a usage fee of the line is cheap, and try to save a communication cost. Thus, if the user selects the item “Minimum Fee”, it takes a period of a half day or a day for the user to receive the distributed desirable music.

[0057] It should be noted that not only such a fee system composed of two stages but also another fee system of three stages or more may be employed, depending on the music server 205. For example, a fee system of three stages such as “Immediately”, “Within Five Hours” and “Within One Day” may be employed. When the user of the portable information terminal 201 selects a music and a distributing manner on the menu screen shown in FIG. 5 and then the data according to the selection is sent to the music server 205, data to confirm the user is sent from the music server 205 or the distribution server 207 to the portable information terminal 201, and a confirmation screen is displayed. Since the distribution of music is usually charged, an input of a password is required. Thus, it is possible to protect the other persons from illegally requesting the downloading.

[0058]FIG. 6 shows a display example of the display when the user selects the item “Minimum Fee”, as an example of a screen for the sake of a user confirmation. When the user selects the item “Minimum Fee”, the music server 205 entrusts the distribution server 207 with the distribution of the music. The distribution server 207 determines a time at which the music may be distributed at the cheapest fee, and returns the time back to the portable information terminal 201 as time data for an aim of the distribution time, and it is displayed on the display 226.

[0059] On the other hand, if the user of the portable information terminal 201 selects the item “Immediately” from the display content of FIG. 5, the music server 205 sends information of this selection to the distribution server 207 and instructs the immediate execution of the distribution. At this time, the password is also requested for the sake of the user confirmation. The first embodiment employs the manner of entrusting the distribution server 207 with all the distributions. However, it is not always limited to this manner. For example, only in the case of the selection of the item “Immediately”, the music server 205 can immediately execute the distribution by using a route connected through the Internet without any intervention of the distribution server 207. It is imagined that a rate of persons who select the item “Immediately” is relatively low because of the fee. Thus, even if the music server 205 performs the direct distribution on those persons, the conventional occurrence of the overload caused by the concentration of the downloading operations is not easily induced. On the contrary, when the music server 205 entrusts the distribution server 207 with the collective distribution, it is possible to simplify the process of the distribution, the process for charging the fee and the process for solving the trouble associated with the downloading operation and the like.

[0060] The portable information terminal 201 and the distribution server 207 in the first embodiment have the radio units, respectively. So, they can be automatically connected to each other, and the data can be sent and received between them. The portable information terminal 201 and the distribution server 207 have a folder all or a part of which have the same directory structure, in order to manage the operation for sending and receiving the data.

[0061]FIG. 7 shows an example of a list of folders used in the first embodiment. The list contains information to identify an attribute of a communication condition of a registered file every folder constituting a directory. This information (hereafter, referred to as a communication condition file) occupies a part of the folders constituting the directory as default. Also, the list contains information to identify the registered file every folder constituting the directory. This information (hereafter referred to as an ID file) occupies a part of the folders constituting the directory as default.

[0062] A folder “A” and a folder “B” are designed such that the portable information terminal 201 and the distribution server 207 shown in FIG. 2 check a content of the folder “A” and “B” for each hour indicated by “Condition”, and the names of the files are “F₁” and “F₂”. Here, a functional attribute “Synchronization” implies that the portable information terminal 201 and the distribution server 207 are respectively equipped the folders which contents are same each other. If the files registered in the folders of the same name are different between the portable information terminal 201 and the distribution server 207, the insufficient file is copied each other through the radio communication between them. Also, if a file is removed on one side, the same file as the removed file is removed on the other side. The first embodiment employs a protocol involving a transmission confirmation control so that the above-mentioned copy or removal can be perfectly executed.

[0063] A folder “C” is designed such that an actuation attribute is set at “Real Time”, namely, when a file is added or removed, they have the file contents equal to each other. Its file name is “F₃”. That is, if the actuation attribute is “Real Time”, for example, if the distribution server 207 adds a file, a radio communication is immediately done at that point. So, its file is added to the portable information terminal 201. If a file is removed from one side, its file is also removed from the other side.

[0064] In a folder “D”, its actuation attribute is “Manual”, and its function attribute is “Synchronization”. Thus, it is manually set that they have the file contents equal to each other. Its file name is “F₄”. In a case of “Manual”, a metaphor is equipped to report to the user the presence of target information synchronizing in accordance with an ID file by which a file registered in a folder assigned to it can be identified. The user, when needing a body of the file, specifies the metaphor and carries out a communication actuation.

[0065] In a folder “E”, its function attribute is “Transfer”. An actuation time for a transfer is set at “3:25” as “Condition”. Its file name is “F₅”. In a case of “Transfer”, there is a directionality of a communication. That is, if a file registered in this folder is not present on a partner side between the portable information terminal 201 and the distribution server 207, its file is transmitted via a radio communication to the partner side. When the transmission is completed, the file of the transmission source is erased.

[0066] It should be noted that “Period”, “Real (Real Time)”, “Manual” and “Time Specification” as the actuation attributes in the list of the folders shown in FIG. 7 are merely the examples. For example, “position” can be used as the actuation attribute. This will be explained later. So, when the portable information terminal 201 enters into a particular position (area), it is actuated. Then, a particular file is copied, transferred or removed.

[0067]FIG. 8 shows a flow of a process among the music server, the distribution server and the portable information terminal when the distribution server transmits music data to the portable information terminal. The portable information terminal 201, when the music distribution button 243 is pushed at the portal site shown in FIG. 4, specifies a URL of the music server 205 shown in FIG. 2 (Step S301). The music server 205, if there is an access through the Internet 204, transmits data to indicate an order entry screen shown in FIG. 5, through the Internet 204 to the portable information terminal 201 (Step S302). The portable information terminal 201 specifies a selection of a song and a distribution manner in response to this transmission (Step S303). The music server 205, when receiving this specification, invokes an external program from an HTML program by using a CGI (Common Gateway Interface), and transmits an instruction to switch the URL to the distribution server 207 (FIG. 2) and a reception number to the portable information terminal 201 (Step S304). After that, the portable information terminal 201 sends and receives the data to and from the distribution server 207. Specifically, the portable information terminal 201 sends the sent URL of the distribution server 207, the reception number and a song name targeted for the downloading operation to the distribution server 207 (Step S305). It should be noted that, which server is used as the distribution server 207 by the music server 205 is determined in advance between both of them.

[0068] The distribution server 207, when receiving the reception number, sends a password request screen shown in FIG. 6, in order to confirm the user using the portable information terminal 201 (Step S306). The password inputted by the user is transferred to the distribution server 207 (Step S307). The distribution server 207, if the inputted password is correct, specifies the URL of the music server 205. If the reception number and the song name to download the music data and its song data are stored in a cache memory formed in the distribution data store memory 209, its version is sent to the music server 205 (Step S308). In response to the reception of the reception number, the music server 205, if the fact that the requested music data is stored in the distribution data store memory 209 is reported, compares its version with a version of music data stored in the self-server. Then, if the versions are equal to each other, the music server sends a message indicating that the music data need not be sent, to the distribution server 207. If the versions are different from each other, or if the requested music data is not present on the distribution server 207, the music server sends the music data itself to the distribution server 207 (Step S309).

[0069] The distribution server 207, if the music data itself is sent from the music server 205, stores it in the distribution data store memory 209 so as to cope with the similarly downloading request, and also stores it in the folder E shown in FIG. 7 (Step S310). In this case, if music data of the newest version is sent since a version is different, the distribution server 207 overwrites the music data of the newest version on the music data of the old version stored in the distribution data store memory 209, and updates a management number of the version to the newest number. If a message indicating that a transmission is not required since the music data of the newest version is stored in the distribution data store memory 209 is sent from the music server 205, the distribution server 207 reads out the corresponding music data from the distribution data store memory 209, and stores it in the folder E (Step S310).

[0070] The distribution server 207, which stores the music data in the folder E, sets a distribution time (Step S311). If the item “Immediately” is specified on the portable information terminal 201, a current time or a time slightly elapsing from the current time is specified as the actuation attribute. On the other hand, if the item “Minimum Fee” is specified, when the process on the distribution server 207 uses an empty line, the time set at FIG. 6 as the time band at which communication fee is cheap is specified as a specification time. After that, the distribution server 207 checks whether or not the specification time arrives, on the basis of a predetermined periodic interval (Step S312). When the specification time is arrived (YES), the distribution server 207 distributes the corresponding music data to the portable information terminal 201 (Step S313).

[0071] It should be noted that, in the case of distributing the music data to the portable information terminal 201, an identification number is required in order to specify the portable information terminal 201. This identification number may be registered on the portal site customized for the user of FIG. 4, or may be registered when an access is done to a home page on the music server 205 shown in FIG. 5. The first embodiment is explained under the assumption that the distribution server 207 has the unique radio unit 210. However, when the portable information terminal 201 is a portable telephone, the music data can be distributed by using a neighboring base station as the radio unit 210. In this case, the distribution server 207 may distribute the music data by using the telephone number of the portable information terminal 201. Also, if the telephone number is sent to the music server 205 or the distribution server 207 from the portable information terminal 201 together with the data of the reception number and the like and stored correspondingly to the reception number, it can be used in distributing the music data.

[0072] <Distribution of Mail>

[0073] An example in which a distribution server 207 distributes a mail received by the mail server 206 shown in FIG. 2 will be described below. Let us suppose that the mail server 206 has a function as a POP (Post Office Protocol) server for receiving and holding a mail from a portable information terminal 201. If it is assumed that the mail server 206, each time receiving one mail destined to a user of a portable information terminal 201, sends it to the corresponding portable information terminal 201, there may be many cases that a time longer than a communication time of the content of the mail is spent on a procedure necessary for a connection of the portable information terminal 201. Thus, this is not economical. Also, if the user has a plurality of mail addresses, the economical efficiency is damaged by the fact that the respective mail servers 206 send the independently received mails to the portable information terminal 201. So, in the first embodiment, the distribution server 207 collectively manages and distributes the mails from the users of the portable information terminals 201 to thereby drop the communication cost.

[0074]FIG. 9 shows the condition when a portable information terminal displays a mail setting screen of a distribution server, in order to set a distribution of a mail. In order to display the mail setting screen shown in FIG. 9, as described in the above-mentioned example, it is enough to access to the portal site sown in FIG. 4, and display its menu screen, and then push the mail button 242. Thus, it is possible to access to the distribution server 207 and then display its mail setting screen. Of course, the mail setting screen can be displayed by directly inputting the URL of the distribution server 207 and using the predetermined procedure.

[0075] On the mail setting screen displayed on the display 226, the user can set “Mail Server Patrol Time”, “Usual Communication Time Interval” and “Emergent Communication Filter”. “Mail Server Patrol Time” implies a time interval when the distribution server 207 patrols the respective mail servers 206 in relation to the mail addresses of the user. If this interval is long, it is difficult to cope with an emergent mail. “Usual Communication Time Interval” implies a time interval, in which when mails are received by any of the mail servers 206 and they are obtained, they are collectively sent to the portable information terminal 201 by radio. “Emergent Communication Filter” implies a filter to immediately distribute the coincident mail address as an emergent communication.

[0076]FIG. 10 shows the flow of the process that enables the control of the above-mentioned distribution server. For each arrival of a patrol time (Step S331: YES), the distribution server 207 accesses to a predetermined mail server 206 (Step S332). If mails are received (Step S333: YES), one of them is fetched, and it is judged whether or not a transmission source agrees with a mail address set as “Emergent Communication Filter” (Step S334). If it agrees (YES), this mail is stored in the folder C (real time actuation) shown in FIG. 7 (Step S335). The mail received from the other transmission source has no emergency. Thus, such a mail is stored in the folder B (for each hour) (Step S336).

[0077] If the above-mentioned division is carried out, it is judged whether or not another mail is received by its mail server 206 (Step S337). If it is judged that the other mail is received (YES), the processes on and after the step S337 are performed on them. If all the mails are processed as mentioned above manner (Step S337: NO), the process is returned back to the original state (Return). In a case that the mail is not received at the step S333, the similar process is carried out.

[0078] It should be noted that the above-mentioned process uses the emergent communication filter and determines the distribution interval between the mails. However, depending on the electronic mails, the emergent degrees can be set, one by one. With regard to such mails, the emergent degree is checked at a processing step corresponding to the step S334. The mail having a high emergency may be stored in the folder C, and the mails except it may be stored in the folder B.

[0079]FIG. 11 shows the flow in the distributing process of the electronic mail in the distribution server. The distribution server 207 checks a presence or absence of a file of a mail to be sent to in the folder C (Step S351). In a case of the presence (YES), its mail is immediately sent to a user of a portable information terminal 201 of a partner by radio (Step S352). In a case of the absence of the file of the mail to be sent to in the folder C, it is checked whether or not a certain period (here, one hour) elapses (Step S353). If it does not elapse (NO), the operational flow returns back to the step S351 and enters in a wait state.

[0080] If it is judged at the step S353 that the certain period elapses (YES), a presence or absence of a file of a mail to be sent to in the folder B is checked (Step S354). In a case of the absence of the corresponding mail (NO), a period is reset (Step S355), and the operational flow again returns back to the process at the step S351 (Return). In a case of the presence of the file of the mail to be sent to in the folder B at the step S354 (YES), the file of the mail is sent to a user of a portable information terminal 201 of a partner by radio (Step S356). After that, the operational flow proceeds to the step S355, and a period is reset.

[0081] It should be noted that, FIG. 11 illustrates the distributions with regard to the folders B, C. However, if the distribution server 207 is responsible for the distribution of the electronic mail as well as the other various data such as music data and the like, it is possible to distribute them in a condition that they are integrated into one element. In this chase, while the various folders shown in FIG. 7 are checked, the corresponding file is sent automatically or manually.

[0082]FIG. 12 shows the flow of a typical process of the distribution server. If a patrol time is arrived (Step S371: YES), the distribution server 207 confirms the actuation attribute illustrated in FIG. 7 (Step S372). If the file is present in the folder C (Step S373: YES), the distribution server 207 distributes the file (Step S374). Next, it is checked whether or not the time specified for the folder E is arrived (Step S375). In a case of the specified time is arrived (YES), the file stored in the folder E is distributed (Step S376). Next, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time (for example, one hour) elapses from a previous distribution time with regard to the folders A, B (Step S377). If it elapses (YES), the files present in the folders A, B are distributed (Step S378).

[0083] It should be noted that it is not always necessary to independently carry out the distribution for each folder. The respective files may be copied to a buffer region, and the files targeted for the distribution may be collectively targeted for the transmission, in accordance with a series of procedures. Thus, for example, the electronic mail and the music data are collectively distributed at the same time. Hence, it is possible to drop the cost necessary for the distribution.

[0084] (Second Embodiment)

[0085]FIG. 13 shows the schematic configuration of a communication system in a second embodiment of the present invention. The communication system is composed of a portable telephone network 401, base stations 403 ₁ to 403 _(N) responsible for respective service areas 402 ₁ to 402 _(N) and an information distribution center 404 and a position detection center 405 which are connected to the portable telephone network 401. In this communication system, when a portable telephone 406 serving as a portable information terminal enters into a predetermined particular service area 402, the position detection center 405 detects it. Then, in accordance with an actuation attribute “Position” that is not included in the actuation attributes shown in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment, data for the service area 402 is sent to the portable telephone 406. So, a territory guide service is carried out by using a voice or a picture. It should be noted that, it may be designed that the position detection center 405 detects a position, on the basis of a base station that manages the portable telephone 406 or detects the position by using another position detector such as GPS (Global Positioning System).

[0086]FIG. 14 shows an example of a setting menu of a territory guide service displayed on a display of a portable telephone, in the second embodiment. A user of the portable telephone 406 shown in FIG. 13 carries out a predetermined operation to display this setting menu on a display 411. This menu is designed such that “Corresponding Territory (service area)” targeted for a guide and “Guide Content” can be indicated by using a radio button. For example, let us suppose that the user of the portable telephone 406 indicates Sinjuku as “Corresponding Territory” and indicates a restaurant as “Guide Content”. Then, when the portable telephone 406 of the user enters into the service area 402 _(N) of Sinjuku, the position detection center 405 sends position information together with an ID of the portable telephone 406 to the information distribution center 404. The information distribution center 404 has the table as shown in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment. So, it wirelessly transmits data with regard to the restaurants in Sinjuku to the corresponding portable telephone 406. The function attribute in this example may “Synchronization”.

[0087] The user of the portable telephone 406 can receive the similar services in a plurality of territories (service areas). Thus, if the user indicates two territories (for example, Sinjuku and Tokyo) in advance, when the portable telephone 406 enters into a service area 402 ₁ of Tokyo after that, the user can receive the guide of the desirable shops, such as restaurants, bookstores and the like, and tourist spots and the like near Tokyo Station.

[0088] (Third Embodiment)

[0089]FIG. 15 shows the schematic configuration of a communication system in a third embodiment of the present invention. This communication system is configured such that portable telephones 501 ₁ to 501 _(N) of respective persons have respective dedicated memory regions 504 ₁ to 504 _(N) in a distribution server 503 on an Internet 502. That is, the first portable telephone 501 ₁ has a dedicated first memory region 504 ₁ in the distribution server 503. Similarly, the N-th portable telephone 501 _(N) has a dedicated N-th memory region 504 _(N) in the distribution server 503. On the Internet 502, for example, a camera shop server 506 managed by a camera show or a card print server 507 managed by a card print shop are placed.

[0090] Let us suppose that an owner of the first portable telephone 501 ₁ holds data to make a card in a memory medium 511 and this data is uploaded to the card print server 507. In this case, the owner of the first portable telephone 501 ₁ wirelessly uploads it to the first memory region 504 ₁ dedicated to the owner in the distribution server 503, while “Data For Making Card”, “Transfer” Data and “Distribution Time” are clearly written. Similarly, let us suppose that an owner of the N-th portable telephone 501 _(N) wants to print a picture photographed by a digital camera 512 at a large size. So, an output terminal of the digital camera 512 is connected to the N-th portable telephone 501 _(N), and its picture data is wirelessly updated to the N-th memory region 504 _(N) dedicated to the owner in the distribution server 503 while “Data For Camera Shop”, “Transfer” data and “Distribution Time” are clearly written. A plurality of kinds of data can be stored in the respective dedicated memory regions 504 ₁ to 504 _(N), such as “Data For Making Card” and “Data For Camera Shop”.

[0091] The distribution server 503 periodically scans the memory regions 504 ₁ to 504 _(N). If data is stored in any of those regions and this is the “Transfer” data, “Distribution Time” as a condition and a destination of the data are read out to then distribute to a corresponding server at an indicated time. In a case of “Data For Making Card” stored in the first memory region 504 ₁, for example, this is distributed to the indicated card print server 507 at the indicated time. Also, in a case of “Data For Camera Shop”, this is distributed to the indicated camera shop server 506 at the indicated time.

[0092] As mentioned above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, since the distribution server 503 is installed, it is not required that a plurality of card print servers 507 themselves are placed, even if there is a time band in which accesses are concentrated on the card print server 507. Moreover, the respective servers, such as the camera shop server 506, the card print server 507, can commonly use the distribution server 503. Thus, it is possible to attain the very effective communication system. Of course, the dedicated memory regions 504 ₁ to 504 _(N) are not always used only for the “Transfer” data. The function attribute may be set as “Synchronization”. For example, when the distribution server 503 obtains data from a certain server and inserts it into the first memory region 504 ₁, the data may be automatically sent out to the first portable telephone 501 ₁. Even in this case, it is naturally possible to select a time band for a distribution and cheaply send data.

[0093] As mentioned above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the distribution server and client terminal have any number of folders in which at least parts thereof are correlated to each other in the one-to-one relationship, and the distribution server stores a file read from a content server in the first folder. For example, if the downloading of a predetermined file is requested by a number of client terminals, and a long time is required in order to transfer the file to those client terminals, the content server to which the file is requested stores the file in the first folder of the distribution server. Then, the actuation timings can be suitably set to thereby disperse the loads in the entire communication system. Moreover, the file is wirelessly communicated between the distribution server and client terminals. Thus, it is also possible to reduce the load on the telephone line.

[0094] Also, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the loads can be dispersed without any increase of the facility, by using the distribution server for the transfer of the file in the content server or the like, on which the accesses from the client terminals are transiently concentrated.

[0095] Moreover, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the periodical actuation is carried out as one manner of the actuation of the actuation timing setting section. Thus, the processes themselves on the distribution server can be dispersed by properly setting the periodic interval if the transfer of the file is not in a great hurry.

[0096] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the actuation timing setting section sets the time when the actuation is carried out. So, the technique for using the nighttime in the case of the file transfer having no emergency can be used to thereby make the communication fee cheaper and also attain the effective usage of the distribution server.

[0097] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the actuation timing setting section is actuated when the new file is stored in the first folder. Thus, as for the transfer of the emergent file, this enables its request to be executed. Of course, if the distribution server is responsible for the distributions of the files from the various servers and the like, the timings themselves of the transfers of the emergent files can be dispersed entirely and temporally. Hence, there is little fear that the loads are concentrated on the particular time.

[0098] Also, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the position is used as the factor of the transfer of the file. Thus, the necessary information with the position information as the trigger can be sent to the movable apparatus such as the portable telephone and the like. Hence, this is effective for the guide of the place and the like.

[0099] Moreover, according to the third aspect of the present invention, if the uploading operations of the files from the mobile terminals are concentrated on the predetermined regions among the several particular memory regions, the distribution server is placed between them. Then, the mobile terminals store the file in the individual memory region corresponding to each of the mobile terminals within the distribution server. Thus, the concentration of the loads can be avoided. Hence, this has the merit that the mobile terminal can transmit and receive the file without directly recognizing the location of the particular memory region. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system comprising: a network; a distribution server connected to said network; and a client terminal connected to said network, wherein said distribution server comprises: a first folder which stores a file read from a content server connected to said network; an actuation timing setting section which sets an actuation timing to process the file stored in said first folder; a radio transmitter which, when the actuation timing set by said actuation timing setting section is arrived, reads out the file from said first folder and wirelessly transmits the read file to said client terminal, and said client terminal comprises: a radio receiver which wirelessly receives the file transmitted from said radio transmitter; and a second folder which is correlated with said first folder and stores the file received by the radio receiver.
 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said actuation timing setting section sets a periodic interval as the actuation timing.
 3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein said actuation timing setting section further sets a time as the actuation timing.
 4. The communication system according to claim 3, wherein said actuation timing setting section further set a real time as the actuation timing, and said radio transmitter, when a new file is stored in said first folder, reads out the new file from said first folder and wirelessly transmits the read new file to said client terminal, and wherein the new file stored in said first folder is removed after the new file is transferred to said second folder through said radio transmitter and said radio receiver and is stored therein.
 5. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said actuation timing setting section sets a time as the actuation timing.
 6. The communication system according to claim 5, wherein said actuation timing setting section further sets a real time as the actuation timing, and said radio transmitter, when a new file is stored in said first folder, reads out the new file from said first folder and wirelessly transmits the read new file to said client terminal, and wherein the new file stored in said first folder is removed after the new file is transferred to said second folder through said radio transmitter and said radio receiver and is stored therein.
 7. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein said actuation timing setting section further sets a real time as the actuation timing, and said radio transmitter, when a new file is stored in said first folder, reads out the new file from said first folder and wirelessly transmits the read new file to said client terminal, and wherein the new file stored in said first folder is removed after the new file is transferred to said second folder through said radio transmitter and said radio receiver and is stored therein.
 8. A communication system comprising: a network; a distribution server which is connected said network and has a first folder; a mobile terminal which is connected to said network and has a second folder correlated with said first folder; and a position detector which detects a current position of said mobile terminal; wherein said distribution server includes a file transmitting section which wirelessly transmits a file stored in advance in said first folder to said second folder when said position detector detects that the current position of said mobile terminal is a predetermined position.
 9. The communication system according to claim 8, wherein the file transmitted by said file transmitting section includes information of a predetermined territory, and said mobile terminal has a display which displays the information of the territory when receiving the file.
 10. A communication system comprising: a network; a mobile terminal which has a first folder and a first communication unit for carrying out a radio communication; a distribution server which is connected to said network and has a memory region correlated to said first folder and a second communication unit for carrying out a radio communication; and a file transferring unit which, when a file is stored in the memory region of the distribution server, transfers the file to a particular memory region which is connected through said network to said distribution server. 